Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. —I Corinthians 6:9-11 “Are you going to heaven when you die?” When…

Yet we are treated like the world’s garbage, like everybody’s trash—right up to the present moment. —I Corinthians 4:13 Today is “dump day.” I will take the trash to the transfer station in our town and thrown away everything we have put in our garbage cans that don’t have value to us. I will throw it in a large dumpster and that will be that. I will never see it again and I will not miss it at all. The Apostle Paul said that he and his colleagues were “treated like the world’s garbage, like everybody’s trash.” People saw them as having no value. They were throw away people that…

We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God’s workers. —I Corinthians 3:5-9 We put some pumpkin plants in this year that were given to us. I…

The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.” So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs…

And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people. —Romans 16:17-18 Water is so powerful when moving. Typhoons, tsunamis, tides, hurricane surges, flooding rivers and torrential downpours all can be so very destructive as told in the tale of The Little Dutch Boy— “Dutch legend has it that there was once a small boy who upon passing…

Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. —Romans 15:4 Some people put their hope in money. Others put their hope in good health, a good job, a good life. They are encouraged when their finances make life “easier” and when they are not overcome by some sickness, loss of their job or business or having difficult relational conflict with in the family or with anyone else. But all these things are so temporary and changing… Our hope should rest securely in God’s Word and what He has…

Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law. —Romans 13:10 And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. —Romans 13:14 Prisons are filled with people who have unlovingly wronged others. They not only thought about ways to indulge their evil desires toward others but they carried those evil desires out. Murderers, thieves, and those who have committed sexual crimes fill our jails and prisons. But before we get self-righteous about not being in prison for those crimes, let us just remember that Jesus equates hatred with murder (Matthew 5:21-22; I John 3:15) and lusting after a woman (or man) in…

Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! “For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back?” For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen. —Romans 11:33-36 How will we honor God today? In what way will we shine forth His brilliance? Will we live in such a way today to magnify His Name? What can we be or do today that…

And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved. —Romans 11:6 Kind people make such a better day, a better world. I recently heard about people here in our little town, a two country store (one with gas pumps) town, they paid for meals for soldiers eating the only diner and buying food at the other store for soldiers as well. Kindness to others brings joy to them and also encourages others who hear about it. Kindness… when we get somewhat of a grasp on God’s kindness it is…

For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” —Romans 10:13-15 Go because you are sent— are you going? You have been sent by Jesus (John 17:18). Tell them so they can hear— are you telling? Faith comes…